Mass. food pantries, cities scramble to prevent hunger as SNAP benefits set to expire
With food aid set to expire for more than 1 million Massachusetts residents this weekend due to the government shutdown, communities are scrambling to open emergency pantries and hold food drives to fill the looming gap.
Worcester has one of the state's largest shares of residents receiving benefits commonly known as "food stamps" under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It's "all hands on deck" in the city, as it partners with nonprofits, businesses and community groups to respond.
"Any disruption to these services has significant repercussions and we are very concerned that people will not have heating assistance, SNAP benefits, housing vouchers, etc. as we move into the colder months," a statement on Tuesday from the Office of City Manager Eric Batista read.
The government shutdown has lasted 28 days amid a funding dispute . In a letter to state SNAP agencies on Oct. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warned that it would lack the money to pay full SNAP benefits starting Nov. 1 if the shutdown dragged on.
In prior government shutdowns, SNAP benefits have continued.
Of the 206,518 residents in Worcester, 53,727 — more than 25% — are at risk. City officials are working "right now" to convene leaders of groups "to identify what the biggest needs are" as "a city-wide effort to keep Worcester's community resources afloat."
Some communities — including Springfield, Holyoke, Fall River and New Bedford — have more than a third of their residents receiving SNAP benefits, according to a map of state data .
The United Way of North Central Massachusetts, based in Fitchburg, promoted its food drive that started at the beginning of the month and will run until Nov. 10, located at 649 John Fitch Highway.
It's part of a larger effort from United Way to combat the problem, as the group opens The United Response Fund to distribute donations to its 13 locations statewide.
In Greater Boston, churches and food pantries are already beginning to feel the need. The Foxborough Food Pantry of the Bethany Congregational Church opened to three times the number of clients it normally sees on Tuesday and asked for more food donations to its drop box locations at the church, or to Stop & Shop locations in Mansfield and Foxborough.
The Greater Boston Food Bank has a resource those in the area can use — its Agency Partner Locator — to find a list of food assistance. It's similar to another site, foodhelpline.org that can be used to find nearby food resources statewide, after users enter their location.
The mayor of Lawrence, another city where SNAP enrollment is notably high with 37,488 residents, or almost 42% of its population, receiving assistance, has launched a "Citywide Emergency Food and Goods Drive" and said, "No one in our city will be left hungry."
"This is a moment that demands leadership, unity, and compassion," said Mayor Brian A. DePeña in a release .
The drive will accept donations at 530 Broadway, a space donated by a local businessman, for non-perishable food, hygiene items, baby supplies and essential household goods. This initiative will be overseen by Lawrence city councilors and Pastor Denis Florentino with volunteers from the Splendor of Zion Church, supported by local churches, schools, nonprofit organizations, and business and community leaders.
Anther citywide food drive also began in neighboring Methuen on Monday, where 10,333 residents — or about 19% of the population — receive SNAP, with distributions planned to start Nov. 1.
In Fall River, where 32,513 residents receive SNAP assistance, the Angels Anonymous food pantry said it's looking for donations of non-perishable items and monetary contributions as its clientele surges. Financial donations can be made to its address or via Venmo and PayPal. The Hebron Food Pantry in Attleboro is also hosting a non-perishable food drive on Nov. 1.
And in Springfield, where 73,675 people are poised to lose benefits, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has listed out advisories . This includes keeping at least $1 on EBT cards so individuals can access Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) benefits for produce from local farm stands and farmers markets. The Food Bank also has an interactive Food Finder Map , which can be used to find local pantries.
As SNAP supplies nine meals for every one the Food Bank can give, it's important to keep updated on the situation, the Food Bank said. Latest SNAP information can be found on mass.gov/DTA .
On Tuesday, protesters rallied at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. Mass. Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the lapse in funding on Tuesday, spoke to the crowd.
"It is an inhumane and cruel decision to suspend SNAP benefits for millions of Americans," Campbell said at the rally.
"Despite having the money to fund SNAP, the Trump Administration is creating needless fear, angst and harm for millions of families and their children, especially as we approach the holidays," she later said in a statement.
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